| 1. |
Radiation can be present at NIH. Read the door signs before
entering a lab. Ask lab personnel what to avoid to prevent radiation
exposure. |
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Research
Work Area Involving Radioactive Material
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| 2. |
Items
labeled with Caution Radioactive Material tape are not to be
touched or removed from the labs. Lab workers are allowed to
use any container -- a box, step can, heavy plastic bag, etc.
-- for holding dry radioactive waste, but the container must
have a sticker or tape on it with the radiation symbol.
A common radioactive waste container is this variety of step
can (left below), usually painted yellow or tan or an MPW box
clearly labeled (right, below). |
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| 3. |
Do not
store or consume food & beverages in a room that has a radiation
sign on the entrance door. |
| 4. |
Disposal
Of Patient-Related Radioactive MPW
In Nursing
Units and Clinical Areas, medical pathological waste (MPW)
from patients who have undergone diagnostic procedures involving
radioactive materials shall be packaged and handled the same
as other patient-related MPW. Segregation of radioactive MPW
from non-radioactive MPW will take place in the Building 25
monitoring station. Radioactive MPW will be picked up from
there and disposed of via the radioactive waste service.
MPW associated
with patients undergoing I-131 therapy shall continue to be
segregated and labeled from all other MPW and collected from
the patient's room by the radioactive waste service.
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| 5. |
When working
in research buildings, be sure to wash your hands with soap
and water before eating, drinking, smoking, or using a bathroom. |
| 6. |
The
NIH Radiation Safety Branch operates the radiation safety program
in accordance with the ALARA concept which stands for "As Low
As Reasonably Achievable". This concept is based on keeping
radiation exposures to all NIH personnel as low as possible
and well below the regulatory limits for radiation exposure.
Therefore, it is everyone's goal to take reasonable steps to
minimize exposure and not receive unnecessary exposure.
Your work in
the Clinical Center does not bring you close to radiation
sources for extended periods of time; therefore, you do not
need to wear a radiation monitoring device to enter such areas.
Occupationally-exposed
personnel will be monitored only if their dose is likely to
exceed 500 millirem per calendar year. A millirem (mrem) is
a measure of the energy absorbed by biological tissue when
radiation interacts with it, and also is used as an estimate
of the potential biological effects of radiation. The majority
of individuals working in the Clinical Center do not require
monitoring. The average whole body exposure for the NIH researchers
is 5 to 10 mrem per year. This is quite low considering the
maximum limit for radiation exposure for an occupationally
exposed individual over the age of 18 is 5,000 mrem per year.
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| 7. |
Remember,
you can't see, feel, or otherwise sense radiation. The only
way to make sure that you're safe is to follow the reminders
listed in this document. |
| Note:
Protection from radioactive materials, at the levels used in
the Clinical Center, is achieved solely by the following standard
Universal Precautions: i.e., wearing gloves and protective clothing
so as to avoid direct contact with the skin. NO other precautions
need to be taken. |
